"Is that so?!"
Miyamoto Musashi, upon hearing Mu Hongchen's words, immediately turned his gaze toward Jian Ruyan, who stood beside him.
Jian Ruyan was dressed in a white gown, her features beautiful yet stern, revealing an aloof aura that said 'keep away'. As Miyamoto Musashi looked at her, she unhesitatingly drew the long sword hanging at her waist.
"Clang!"
A clear clang echoed throughout the courtyard.
Jian Ruyan held the frost-covered long sword in one hand and slightly raised the other toward Miyamoto Musashi, her tone indifferent as she said, "Dragon King Hall, Beidou Yao Guang, please advise."
"Dongying Swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, please advise!"
Miyamoto Musashi leisurely drew the samurai sword hanging at his waist, a cold and chilling light suddenly filled the courtyard, as if freezing the air itself.
It was one of Dongying's famous blades, Onimaru Kunitsuna!
As soon as he finished speaking,
Miyamoto Musashi's expression turned stern, he stepped forward, and like an arrow released from a bow, he rapidly charged toward Jian Ruyan, slashing with his sword as fierce Sword Qi enveloped her.
"Ha!"
Jian Ruyan let out a sharp cry, her wrist flicking.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
In an instant, flashes of sword light burst forth, emitting several chilling and brilliant lights, clashing with Miyamoto Musashi's sword radiance.
"Boom!"
It was like thunder in an empty chamber, Qi Force swirling wildly, causing the nearby trees to tremble, and countless leaves to fall.
"Shh!"
Jian Ruyan broke through Miyamoto Musashi's Sword Qi cover with one strike, stepping forward, she closed the distance to within one meter of Miyamoto Musashi and slashed straightforwardly at his neck!
"Clang!"
Miyamoto Musashi quickly raised his sword to block, the collision of sword and blade emitting a crisp, cold sound.
It was akin to Yama's Death Knell.
Although he managed to block Jian Ruyan's attack with his sword, the intense Sword Qi still continuously leaked from the blade, causing Miyamoto Musashi's neck to break out in goosebumps.
"Good!"
Miyamoto Musashi shouted forcefully, dispelling the fear and anger in his heart, then channeled strength into his Demon Sword and swung, parrying Jian Ruyan's precious sword!
"Shh!"
Following that, Miyamoto Musashi repeatedly shifted his position, in an instant he leapt three meters away,
creating distance between himself and Jian Ruyan.
"Clang!"
Miyamoto Musashi sheathed his sword and abruptly closed his eyes.
A moment later,
as Jian Ruyan moved to close in, he suddenly opened his eyes, his murky old eyes overflowing with brilliance, as dazzling as the blazing sun.
"Ha!"
Miyamoto Musashi emitted another loud shout and drew his sword once more!
This move was Dongying's famous Killing Move,
known as Battōjutsu, also called Lihe Slash!
"Whoosh!"
No one could see the speed of Miyamoto Musashi drawing his sword; it seemed that the moment he grasped the hilt, the sword was already unsheathed.
Brilliant and fierce white light made it impossible for everyone in the courtyard to keep their eyes open.
The terrifying Sword Qi wildly surged forth, accompanied by Miyamoto Musashi wielding his Demon Sword infused with his whole life's Essence, Qi, and Spirit, striking at Jian Ruyan, who seemed to face a life-or-death crisis.
Mu Hongchen, standing aside, forced herself to stare through the intense white light, tears streaming down her face as she watched the fierce battle unfold.
Her heartbeat quickened, never having expected that this Dongying Sword Saint, already one foot in the coffin, could still display such power. She began to worry about the duel which had seemed nearly certain.
Mu Hongchen was deeply concerned whether Jian Ruyan would survive this strike; she almost couldn't resist crying out to warn Jian Ruyan to be careful, but fearing that it might distract Jian Ruyan, she covered her mouth tightly with her hand.
"Ha!"
In the midst of this great fear of life and death, Jian Ruyan's expression remained fearlessly defiant, watching as Miyamoto Musashi's sword was about to strike her down; in that moment, her spirit became utterly serene, and she quietly closed her eyes.
Then, she thrust her sword, aiming it at Miyamoto Musashi's heart with a swift stab.
Jian Ruyan did not choose to flee, or to block with her sword, instead she chose to perish together with Miyamoto Musashi.
Mu Hongchen almost couldn't help but cry out.
Her heart was anxious, she really didn't want her sister to die at the hands of this old man, Miyamoto Musashi, particularly not in a mutual demise; after all, she still had many years ahead of her to enjoy, whereas Miyamoto Musashi was already one foot in the grave.
Mu Hongchen desperately wanted to rush over to stop this duel.
But her strength was far inferior to Jian Ruyan's, and rashly rushing over would only add a lost soul under Miyamoto Musashi's blade.
Moreover, the speed of their attacks was such that, by the time her mind reacted to stop it, her body couldn't immediately rush over.
In the end, Mu Hongchen dared not watch any longer and chose to close her eyes.
She prayed in her heart, hoping against hope that Jian Ruyan wouldn't die!
If she did, she would definitely make the Dragon King come back to torture this old man to death.
The final showdown in the arena had reached its critical moment.
Jian Ruyan's long sword was about to pierce Miyamoto Musashi's heart, and Miyamoto Musashi's Demon Sword was also about to cleave into Jian Ruyan's forehead.
At that moment.
Miyamoto Musashi faltered.
Perhaps it was because he was ultimately old, fearing death even more.
Or perhaps, he felt that perishing together with Jian Ruyan was not worth it. He had come alone to Huaxia to seek revenge against Mu Jinyu, not to die along with a woman.
Therefore, at the last moment, Miyamoto Musashi chose to block with his sword!
He did not want to die together with Jian Ruyan; he still wanted to seek revenge on Mu Jinyu!
"Shhh!"
The sword's light was dimming, but the sword intent was intense.
Even though Miyamoto Musashi had chosen to block at the last minute, he had not expected that Jian Ruyan's sword was made of such unique material.
Thus, as the blade's light weakened, a metallic clang was followed by the sound of ripping cloth.
"Clang!"
"Shhh!"
Jian Ruyan's sword, in a slashing motion, cleaved through Miyamoto Musashi's Demon Sword, like a hot knife through butter, effortlessly cutting it in half.
As the sword broke, so did the hand of Miyamoto Musashi holding it; Jian Ruyan's unstoppable strike also sliced off his hand.
"Clang!"
"Thud!"
The broken blade hit the ground, and an arm landed along with it.
Blood started spurting out from where Miyamoto Musashi's arm had been severed, shooting up towards the sky.
"Ah!"
Miyamoto Musashi's face, covered in age spots, turned instantly pale, and sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.
He let out a piercing scream, then lifted his other arm and began pressing on the severed limb; soon, the blood that had been spraying out ceaselessly stopped.
"Shhh!"
Sword light flashed once again.
However, to Miyamoto Musashi's surprise, even though he had clearly lost and even lost an arm, Jian Ruyan still did not cease her attack.
One sword stroke severed his left thumb!
"I have instructed!"
After severing Miyamoto Musashi's left thumb and ensuring he could not use a sword in that hand, Jian Ruyan sheathed her sword without any change of expression and softly spoke.
"You?!"
Miyamoto Musashi almost fainted, then glaring at Jian Ruyan with widened eyes, he said angrily, "I have already lost; why do you still strike me?"
Jian Ruyan calmly said, "Since you asked for instruction, how could there be a lesson without a severed finger to call it 'instruction'?"